Press.



P. UPHAIVI.

PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED `AUG.2I.VI9II.

lwl. Patented oet. 24,1916.

IIIIIIIIII IIIE.

PRESTON UPI-IAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATIONALPAVEMENT COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION NECTICUT.

OF CON- PRESS.

naoaeie.

Application led August 21, l1.911.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, PRESTON UPHAM, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Presses, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, `is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and herein described, relates to certain improvements inpresses, which improvements possess many features of novelty andinvention which are useful either in combination with each other asdisclosed, or as used separately in any type 0f press.

One of these features is my pressure creating and pressure transmissionsystem.

Another is my improved construction for operating my mold opening,filling, and closing means.

Many other features of novelty will be explained hereinafter'.

The drawing shows a diagrammatic view of the press.

In the embodiment of my invention disl closed in this drawing, thedriving pulley 1,

driven by a belt from any suitable source of power, is shown keyed onthe shaft 2, to which is keyed the pinion 3. The pinion 3 meshes withthe gear 4 keyed on the timing shaft 5, so the said belt and gearingconstitute one type of motor for said shaft 5. The timing shaft 5 isprovided with a crank 6. A connecting rod 7 connects said crank with adisplacing plunger 8 which reciprocates in a part of a chamber 9 of thehydraulic cylinder 10. In lieu of the crank 6, I may, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, use any other suitable pressureactuator, preferably one having a fixed throw, as, for example, aneccentric or cam, altering the connection with the plunger 8 tocorrespond. The hydraulic cylinder 10 is provided with pressureresponsive means herein shown as a ram 11 although a diaphragm may beused without departing from the spirit of my invention. rllhe receptacleor chamber between the displacing plunger 8 and the ram 1l is filledSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2d, 1916.

Serial No. 645,056.

with a normally substantially constant body or fixed quantity of liquid.It will -readily be seen that revolution of the timing shaft 5 willproduce reciprocation of the ram 11 and that the pressure applied to thedisplacing plunger 8 will be multiplied when transmitted to the ram 11in the same ratio as the respective areas of the displacing plunger andram.

In order that excessive resistance to compressive movement of the rammay not stall the timing shaft or break any of the parts, and alsoherein to provide a dwell or period of high compression, I have providedautomatic pressure determining or controlling means, which, in theembodiment herein disclosed, comprises a pressure determining orcontrolling plunger 12, reciprocable in a cylinder 13 connected with, oropening into, the chamber 10. I have herein shown the pressuredetermining or relief plunger 12 as resisted by or receiving pressurefrom a piston 14 in a fluid pressure cylinder 15, though any yieldingmethod of imparting resistance to my controlling plunger, such as aspring, weight, or the like may be used. Steam or other fluid pressureisadmitted to one end of this cylinder in such a way as to hold thecontrolling plunger 12 in its inmost position with relation to thechamber 9, eXcept when a predetermined pressure on the liquid in thechamber 9 has been reached. IThis, as may be readily seen, will bereached only when a predetermined resistance is opposed to compressingmovement of the ram 11. "When this occurs, the pressure determining orcontrolling plunger 12 will be forced back in its cylinder 13 againstthe pressure of the fluid in the fluid pressure cylinder 15.

The cylinder 13, the plunger 12, the fluid pressure cylinder 15 and theamount of liquid in the chamber 9 are all so proportioned that thepressure at which the controlling plunger begins to operate may benormally reached before the displacing plunger 8 reaches the end of itsstroke. They are also so proportioned that the controlling plunger will,under normal conditions, merely recede in its chamber during the furtherdisplacing stroke of the displacing plunger .without allowing any liquidto escape. If, in exceptional cases of abnormal obstruction oraccident,rthe liquid reached the predetermined pressure substantiallyearlier in the stroke of the dis- Ventirely forced from its cylinder,thus allowing some liquid to escape and thus preventing completeVejection of the controlling plunger from the cylinder'or breaking of theparts.

The pressure system, one form of which is herein disclosed, is designedprimarily to coperate with an automatically operating mold, for thecompression of blocks, bricks, tiles and the like, made from asphalticor other plastic material.

I have shown in the drawings a mold containing member 17 having a mold18 and connected to the hydraulic cylinder by bolts 18, and a plunger 19operable by the ram 11 through the member 19a. To fill this mold 18, tocover it when the material therein is being pressed and to uncover itwhen said mold is being emptied, it is necessary to provide operatingmeans to change the relative position of the mold and mold cover. In theembodiment herein described, I have shown a sliding head 2O containingthe filling neck 21 and the mold cover or pressure receiving block 22.It is immaterial however whether the mold cover is moved relative to themold or whether the mold is moved relative to the mold cover. Thesliding head is held from upward movement by a bulkhead 23 secured tothe bolts 18. In the embodiment shown, it is necessary that the slidinghead 20 should be automatically movable into three positions,respectively, for filling as shown in the drawing, for pressing with thepressure receiving block 22 covering the mold and for ejection with thehead removed from over the mold entirely.

. So far as I am at present advised, in all presses heretoforeconstructed which require three relative positions of the mold and moldcover, vmovement of the moving member in one direction at least has beenoccasioned byv positive mechanical means as distinguished from fluidpressure means. One object of the present invention is to provide fluidpressure mold `operating means for producing all such movements. In theembodiment herein disclosed, I accomplish this by the use of two fluidpressure cylinders. Of these, one shown at 24 contains the piston 25operating the piston rod 26, the piston 25having stroke limiting means4herein'shown as thehtail rod 2 7,

the link 28 and the fixed pin 29 attached to any suitable and convenientsupport. I may use a crank or any other suitable stroke limiting devicewithout departing from the spirit of my invention. In the embodiment ofmy invention shown, the piston rod 26 is not attached to the slidinghead but abuts against it. Another fluid pressure cylinder 30 isprovided with a piston 31, a piston rod32 connected to the head, and thetail rod 33 provided with stroke limiting means herein shown as the link34 and the fixed pin 35 attached to any suitable support.

rIhe operationof the head moving means may be timed as follows: On thetiming shaft 5 which preferably also operates as the crank shaft of thepress are mounted any suitable cams or the well known mechanical devicemeans. Of these, one, through any suitable connection, a part of whichis shown at 38, operates the slide valve 39 in the valve chest 40 whichcontrols the inlet and outlet of steam or fluid pressure from thecylinder 24. Fluid pressure is preferably admitted to one end of thiscylinder only. Any suitable inlet may admit steam to the valve chest 40,and any suitable exhaust port 41 may serve to exhaust steam from thecylinder 24. Another cam or the like on the shaft 5, through anysuitable connection, a part of which is shown at 43, operates the slidevalve 44 in the steam valve chest 45. This slide valve 44 controls theadmission and exhaust of steam from the opposite ends of the cylinder30. The exhaust pipe 46 is preferably provided with a safety valve 47 sothat when one end of the cylinder is exhausting, a relatively lowpressure will still be maintained therein. This serves to maintain a lowpressure in the end of the cylinder 30 when the steam pressure in thecylinderA 24 is moving the sliding head into pressing position andprevents any momentum acting to continue movement of said head after thepiston 25 has completed its stroke. After the compression of the blockin the mold and the uncovering of the mold, I provide ejection or moldemptying means preferably operated by fluid pressure. In the embodimentof my invention herein disclosed, I accomplish this by a fluid pressureoperated ejecting cylinder 48 having a piston 48a and the piston rod 48boperating through the connecting rod 49 on the bell crank 50 pivoted onthe shaft 51 which operates to lift the member 19a and the plunger 19.The point to which the plunger is to be raised by this fluid pressurecylinder is determined by any suitable stroke limiting device hereinshown as lugs having set screws 52 which may be adjusted to allow theplunger to be elevated to such a height only as to be flush with the.top of the nacldl containing member 17. Steam is admitted and exhaustedfrom the ejecting cylinder 48 by means of a slide valve 53 located inany suitable valve chest 54. This slide valve 53 is operated through anysuitable connecting mechanism typified by a cam or any other suitabledevice located on the timing shaft 5.

The operation of the press is as follows. In the position shown in thedrawing, the mold has just been filled. Fluid pressure is now admittedto the end 57 of the fluid pressure cylinder 24 by movement of the slidevalve 39. The pressure in the cylinder 30 being low, the sliding head 20is pushed by the rod '26 until the pin 29 stops the link 28. Asexplained before, if desired, a relatively low pressure may bemaintained in the cylinder 30 to prevent the momentum of the slidinghead from carrying it past the desired pressing position. The crank 6which revolves clockwise now starts the displacing plunger 8 on itsinward travel, starting the ram 11 on its upward travel. This continuesuntil the predetermined pressure upon the contents of the mold isreached, when the pressure determining or controlling plunger 12responds and allows the displacing plunger 8 to finish its inward strokewithout substantial further movement of the ram 11.

It is manifest, in the embodiment of my invention herein shown, thatnormally from the instant the displacing plunger causes movement of thepressure determining or controlling plunger until that plunger resumesits starting position after the displacing plunger has made thenecessary part of its return stroke, a substantially uniformpredetermined pressure will be maintained upon the contents of the moldthrough the compressing plunger' and ram. This pressure will be thusapplied for a period which is believed to be approximately twice thelength of time that a uniform pressure can be maintained upon anypositively actuated hydraulic press of like capacity of the safetyvalve, liquid expulsion type. This increased dwell or period duringwhich a high compression is maintained is valuable to effect a moreperfect compression of the material in the mold.

' The controlling plunger and the inward pressure applied thereto shouldbe so proportioned to the other elements of my pressure transmissionsystem that it will not normally allow any liquid to escape from thechamber but will take up the surplus movement of the displacing plungerby receding in its own cylinder 13. Should, however, the ram 11 bestopped abnormally early in its travel and hence the controlling plungerbe forced farther back in its chamber than is normally the case, thepassage 16 will permit the excess of liquid to escape. This passagehowever is intended only to operate in an emergency. The pressingoperation being completed when the displacing plunger has recededsufficiently to relieve all pressure from the material in the mold, itis necessary to uncover the mold so that the compressed material may beejected therefrom. To perform this, steam is admitted to the end 58 ofthe cylinder 30 by moving its slide valve 4a into proper position bymeans of its cam. This causes the head to be moved to its position atthe extreme right as allowed by the link 34 and the pin 35. The mold isnow uncovered. The slide valve 53 is now moved by its cam to a positionsuch that fluid pressure is admitted to the end 59 of the cylinder 48.This, through the connections before explained, causes the block to beejected from the mold. Fluid pressure is now admitted by the action ofit'scam on slide valve 41:4 to the end 60 of the cylinder 30. Thiscauses the sliding head to move to the ex 'treme left position allowedby the link 3&1 and pin 35 in which position the neck21 registers withthe mold 18, the fluid pressure in the cylinder 2l having first beenexhausted by the action of its cam on the slide valve 39. The fluidpressure is now eX- hausted from the end 59 of the cylinder 48 and ifnecessary, other fluid pressure may be admitted to the opposite end ofthe cylin der 48 to assist gravity in causing the plunger 19 and themember 19a to fall and cause the mold to be again filled with unpressedmaterial from the neck 21. Any suitable device as shown at 61 may beused to vary the downward stroke of the plunger and hence the amount ofmaterial admitted to the mold and the thickness of the resultant block.

As will be readily seen by the construction shown in the presentembodiment of my invention, the pressure creating means is actuatedindependently of my mold operating means. By this arrangement, in caseof'any obstruction to the sliding head moving or block ejecting means,the pressing power which is very great is not effective to break any ofthe parts, yet they are all relatively timed together.

My hydraulic transmission system obviates the necessity for constantlysupplying new liquid as is the case with the usual types of mechanicallyactuated hydraulic presses which are supplied with safety valves topermit escape of the liquid when a predetermined pressure is reached. Bymy system, I prevent a predetermined pressure being exceeded normallywithout loss of liquid. The construction shown, as before explained,also prolongs the dwell during which the material is subjected to itsmaximum pressure because the maximum "pressure iscontained during thestroke of the yrelief plunger in bothwdirectiops nor= mally continuingduring a part of the stroke of the displacing plunger in bothdirections.

i I preferably provide a replenishing pump 62 adapted to replace anyliquid Which may leak or escape from the chamber 9.

While I have shown an improvement in mold operating mechanisms, suchimprovement is not; claimed in this application, but isv claimed in mycopending application, Serial No. M5394, filed Aug. 24, 1911.

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention, I Wish itunderstood that my invention is not limited to the constructions andcombinations herein shown and described but What I desire to claimbroadly by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.

Claims.

1. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; means to. open and close said mold; a receptacle containingnormally a substantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting and4multiplying liquid; a displacing plunger for said liquid; an actuatorfor said displacing plunger; a ram to compress the contents of saidmold, said ram being normally responsive to movement of said displacingplunger for a portion only of the stroke thereof; and pressurecontrolling means other than said actuator coperating therewith tocontrol the pressure imparted to saidram While maintaining said fixedquantity of liquid in said receptacle.

2. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; a mold cover; operating means to change the relative position ofsaid mold and said mold cover; a receptacle containing normally asubstantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting and multiplyingliquid; a displacing plunger for said liquid having a fixed travel; afixed-thro7 mechanical actuator for said displacing plunger; a ramoperating a compressing member in said mold, said ram being normallyresponsive to movement ofsaid displacing plunger for a portion only ofthe stroke of said displacing plunger; and automatic pressurecontrolling means to permit said displacing means to complete itsdisplacing stroke While normally maintaining said substantially fixedquantity of liquid in said receptacle.

3. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; means to fill and empty said mold; a receptacle containingnormallyV a substantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting andmultiplying liquid; aV displacing plunger for said liquid; an actuatorfor said displacing plunger; a ram to compress the contents of saidmold; said ram being normally responsive to movement of said displacingplunger fora portion only of the stroke of said' displacing plunger;Vand automatic.

pressure controlling means to permit said displacing means to completeits displacing stroke While normally maintaining said substantiallyfixed quantity of liquid in said receptacle.

4. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; mold filling and emptying means; a receptacle containing normallya substantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting and multiplyingliquid; a displacing plunger for said liquid having a fixed travel; afixed-throw mechanical actuator for said displacing plunger; a ram tocompress the contents of said ram being normally responsive to movementof said displacing plunger for a portion of the stroke of saiddisplacing plunger; and automatic fluid controlled pressure controllingmeans to permit said displacing means to complete its displacing strokenormally While maintaining said substantially fixed quantity of liquidin said receptacle.

5. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; a mold cover; mold operating means to change the relative positionof mold and said mold cover; a receptacle containing normally asubstantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting and multiplyingliquid; a displacing plunger'for said liquid; an actuator for saiddisplacing plunger; a ram operating a compressing member in said mold,said ram being normally responsive to movement of said displacingplunger for a portion of the stroke of said displacing plunger; andautomatic fluid controlled pressure controlling means to permit saiddisplacing means to complete its displacing stroke normally Whilemaintaining said substantially fixed quantity of liquid in saidreceptacle.

6. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; means to open and close said mold; a receptacle containingnormally a substantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting andmultiplying liquid; a displacing plunger for said liquid having a fixedtravel; a fixedthroW mechanical actuator for said displacing plunger; aram to compress the contents of said mold, said ram being normallyresponsive to movement of said displacing plunger for a portion of thestroke of said displacing plunger; and automatic elastic fiuidcontrolled pressure determining means to permit said displacing means`to complete its displacing stroke normally While maintaining saidsubstantially xed quantity of liquid in said receptacle.

7. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; a mold cover; mold operating means to change the relative positionof said mold and said moldf cover; a receptacle containing n ormally a'substantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting and multiplyingliquid; a displacing plunger for said liquid; an actuator for saiddisplacing plunger; a ram operating a compressing member in said mold,said ram being normally responsive to movement of said displacingplunger for a portion of the stroke of said displacing plunger; andautomatic elastic Huid controlled pressure determining means to allowsaid displacing means to complete its displacing stroke normally whilemaintaining said substantially fixed quantity of liquid in saidreceptacle.

8. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising inl combination amold; mold emptying means; a liquid displacing plunger; a ram operatinga compressing plunger in said mold; a receptacle between said displacingplunger and said ram containing normally a fixed quantity of pressuretransmitting and multiplying liquid during the compression and returnstrokes of said ram; a fixed-throw positive mechanical actuator for saiddisplacing plunger; and automatic pressure controlling means operativewhen a predetermined resistance to compressing movement of saidcompressing plunger has been reached, to prevent said predeterminedresistance being substantially exceeded normally without any escape ofliquid from said chamber.

9. A n asphalt block-forming hydraulic Vpress comprising in combinationa mold;

mold closing means; operating means to change the relative position ofsaid mold and mold closing means; a ram to compress the contents of saidmold; a displacing plunger; an actuator for said displacing plunger;normally a substantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting andmultiplying liquid operatively interposed between the said displacingplunger and said ram during the compression and return strokes of saidram; and means to determine substantially the maximum pressure impartedby said ram and to maintain such determined maximum pressure upon saidram during a substantial part of the stroke of said actuator.

10. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; a mold cover; operating means to change the relative position ofsaid mold and mold cover; a compressing plunger for said mold; a ram tomove said compressing plunger; 'a displacing plunger; an actuator forsaid displacing plunger having a ixed throw; normally a substantiallylixed quantity of pressure transmitting and multiplying liquidoperatively interposed between the4 said displacing plunger and said ramduring the compression and return strokes of said ram; and means todetermine substantially the maximum pressure imparted by saidcompressing plunger and to maintain such determined pressure upon saidmold plunger during a substantial part of the stroke of said actuator.

l1. An asphalt bloclnforming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; mold filling and emptying means; a ram to impart pressure to thecontents of said mold; a receptacle containing normally a fixed amountof' pressure transmitting and multiplying liquid; a displacing plungerfor said liquid; an actuator to impart movement to said displacingplunger; and pressure controlling means operative to determinesubstantially a pre-determined pressure imparted to said ram and toprolong the period during which said pre-determined pressure is impartedto said ram to include a portion of the return stroke of said actuator.

l2. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; a mold cover; operating means to change the relative position of'said mold and said mold cover; a receptacle containing normally asubstantially fixed quantity of pressure transmitting and multiplyingliquid; a displacing plunger for said liquid; an actuator for saiddisplacing plunger; a ram operating a compressing plunger in said mold,said compressing plunger being normally responsive to movement of saidactuator for a portion of the compressing stroke of said actuator andautomatic pressure determining means other than said actuator to permitsaid actuator to complete its compressive stroke without correspondingmovement of said compressing plunger while maintaining saidsubstantially fixed quantity of liquid in said receptacle.

13. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; a mold cover; mold operating means to change the relative positionof said mold and said mold cover; a mold plunger reciprocable in saidmold; a hydraulic ram to impart compressing movement to said moldplunger; a ram cylinder for said ram; a liquid containing receptacleoperatively connected with said ram cylinder; a liquid displacingplunger to displace liquid in said chamber, whereby pressure may beimparted to said ram; pressure controlling means coperating with saidchamber and comprising a plunger; a cylinder for said plunger and apassage in said plunger, whereby pressure ejection of said plunger fromits cylinder is prevented.

14. An asphalt block-forming hydraulic press comprising in combination amold; mold closing means; mold operating means to move relatively saidmold and said mold closing means; a mold plunger reciprocable in saidmold; a hydraulic ram to impart compressing movement to said moldplunger; a ram cylinder for said ram; a liquid containing chamberoperatively connected with said ram cylinder; a liquid displacingplunger to displace liquid in said Y chamber, whereby pressure may beimparted to said ram; an actuator for said displacing plunger; anormally Xed quantity of pressure multiplying liquid in said liquidcontaining chamber and pressure controlling means Vcomprising acontrolling plunger; a cylinder for said plunger; pressure meansoperating on said controlling means to determine the pressure impartedto said liquid by said displacing plunger, whereby pres- Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C.

